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Head Scratchers

Warren Buffett Op-Ed: Please Tax Me More

12:00 pm, August 15th | by Sylvie Krekow


Warren Buffett’s op-ed piece in the New York Times today has an unusual message: he wants Congress to tax him (and his billionaire friends) more.

Whether or not you agree with him, it’s kind of refreshing to hear a mogul talk about wanting to give back and share instead of about how many private jets they have or whether this year’s vacation spot is St. Bart’s or Ibiza. Now we’ve sort of come to expect this sentiment from our lefty-loving Buffett — but we still can’t get over some of the bizarre wording and humble-bragging Buffett does here.

Although he uses phrases like “I checked in with my mega-rich friends to learn what pain they were expecting. They, too, were left untouched,” to make a point about how congress should tax moguls more heavily, it’s kind of annoying to hear about how “untouched” Buffett and all his buddies were in the current economic climate, especially after last week’s up and down stock market.

He reminds us how wealthy he is several times, saying “we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks” and “these and other blessings are showered upon us by legislators in Washington who feel compelled to protect us, much as if we were spotted owls or some other endangered species.” You’re a fabulously wealthy spotted owl. Sure. Then why doesn’t Al Gore like you more?

To his credit, he wraps up the piece by writing “My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice.”

Now that’s a populist sentiment that’s hard to argue with… right?

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  • Yvonne Sites

    No one is stopping Warren Buffett from writing a check to the government to help pay down the debt.  If he feels that way he should just do it.

  • Bob Campbell83

    All Buffet has to do is begin paying himself a $100m salary and he can have the fun of paying 35%  to the Fed.  Govt.

  • Sgibiliscious

    If Warren Buffet didn’t have the assets he does, he wouldn’t be able to say these things and get people to listen.   Isn’t this what most people have been saying for weeks, if not years?

    And just because he may give, he can’t force everyone in his position to: but the government can.

    Seriously, if you don’t want to be reminded there are really wealthy people out there, you shouldn’t really read up on the Bush tax cuts.  When you are as rich as Warren Buffet, calling yourself “mega-rich” is hardly bragging: it’s more refraining from using actual units and numbers.

    And honestly, Al Gore probably doesn’t like a lot of your friends, either. (The bill DOES incentive-ise the use of coal.)

  • Kronosx7

    except that money would come from the company, not his personal investments which is where he makes all of his money

  • Kronosx7

    I agree, he is emphasizing his wealth because that is the point of the whole article, he is super rich, as are his friends and they don’t need hand outs. It’s not bragging at all, the point isn’t made without him pointing out his wealth.

  • Leslie

    Exactly my feelings – what is he waiting for, the Government to change the tax laws? Come on!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1188313820 Carol Cumbie

    He is about as phoney as Obama. Maybe he is the one that made the billion dollar bet  if the USA lost his credit rating. Since he is running Obama campaign. I thought for sure it was Soros since he had done it to so many countries.  With Buffett on Obama’s campaign maybe it is him after all.

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